Combination golf club and turf repair implement

ABSTRACT

A combination golf club and turf repair implement which is attached to and carried by the club, the implement including a body mounted at the hand grip end of the club shaft and having a pair of spiralled turf penetrating tines which are normally shielded by a flexible cover, but which may be exposed for use and manipulated by means of the club shaft in repairing a turf scar.

United States Patent [191 Crockett [451 Nov. 13, 1973 COMBINATION GOLF CLUB AND TURF REPAIR IMPLEMENT [76] Inventor: Cyril C. Crockett, P.O. Box 488,

Mecca, Calif. 92254 [22] Filed: Aug. 12, 1971 [211 App]. No.: 171,266

[52] US. Cl. 273/162 F, 172/378, 172/381 [51] Int. Cl A63b 53/00 [58] Field of Search 273/162 R, 162 A, 273/162 F, 77 R; 172/378, 381; 294/19 R, 19 A, 55.5, 61

v [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,162,475 12/1964 Allen 294/61 X 2,700,547 1/1955 Kraeling..... 273/162 D 2,834,629 5/1958 Williams 294/19 A 3,239,264 3/1966 Dupont 294/19 A 177,863 5/1876 McCormick 294/61 3,318,628 5/1967 White 273/162 E UX 1,669,836 5/1928 Neuberth 273/162 F 3,185,483 5/1965 Klynman 273/162 F 3,456,737 7/1969 Rhyme 273/162 F X FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 892,292 1/1944 France 294/61 Primary ExaminerRichard C. Pinkham Assistant Examiner-Richard J Apley Attorney-Paul A. Weilein [5 7] ABSTRACT A combination golf club and turf repair implement which is attached to and carried by the club, the implement including a body mounted at the hand grip end of the club shaft and having a pair of spiralled turf penetrating tines which are normally shielded by a flexible cover, but which may be exposed for use and manipulated by means of the club shaft in repairing a turf scar.

8 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENTEUNDV 13 1975 INVENTOR (VB/C C- (380611 77- BY Waa/W A TTOZ/WEV BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to equipment for use in the game of golf.

It has been generally known heretofore to provide turf repairing implements and tools for repairing indentations in the turf surfaces of putting greens such as those caused by the impact of a golf ball on the green and generally referred to as a ball-scar as well as those indentations caused by slicing the green turf with the putter.

One prior art device comprises, in one form a separate accessory or device which can be carried in the golf bag or on the person of the golfer. In another form, the device is arranged to be removably carried by a golf club, such as a putter, and from which it can be detached for use, when desired.

In these known devices, the tool is designed to be hand held and manipulated. The player is therefore required to bend down, stoop, or kneel in order to use the tool. Such a procedure is not only time consuming, but is inconvenient to the extent that the player may be inclined to forego the turf repair, with the result that the following players will have to play over a rough green.

The present invention proposes to overcome the foregoing disadvantages of the prior known tools or implements by providing a unique tool or implement which is carried by the golf club and remains attached to the club while being manipulated by means of the club shaft. The tool normally occupies a nonuse position on the club which does not in any way interfere with the normal use of the club. Ordinarily, the tool or implement will be attached to a putter so as to be available at all times when playing on the green.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to an improved golf club, and is more particularly concerned with a golf club havingin combination therewith a turf repair implement or tool.

With the foregoing in mind, it is one object of the present invention to provide an improvdtool or-implement for use by golfers inthe repair. of putting green turf by removing indentations such as ball-scars, and indentations caused by slicing the green turf with the club when putting. r

A further object is to provide an implement or tool for the repair of turf scars, which is attached to a golf club and capable of use without being detached, and wherein the implement or tool can be manipulated by means of the club shaft.

A further object is to provide a turf repair implement or tool as an article of manufacture, which can be attached to the hand grip portion of a club'shaft.

Another object is to provide a turf repair implement Still another object is to provide a unique combination golf club and turf repair implement, which is always available, easy and convenient of use, and which may be used in a standing position, without having to stoop, kneel, or bend down.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be brought out in the following part of the specification, wherein detailed description is for the purpose of fully disclosing a preferred embodiment of the invention without placing limitations thereon.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING Referring to the accompanying drawing, which is for illustrative purposes only:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary exploded view showing in elevation a hand grip section of a golf club shaft, and a turf repair implement or'tool, partly in section, constructed according to the features of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary longitudinal section through the end of the hand grip section withthe tool or implement attached thereto, and showing the operative relationship of the cover shield when protecting the implement during nonuse, and when the implement is ex posed for use;

FIG. 3 is a top end plan view of the implement; and

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary elevational view, partly in section, illustrating the manner of utilizing the implement and its manipulation by the club shaft for repairor tool having unique means for clampingly attaching it to the golf club shaft, and which has spirally projecting turf penetrating tines which can be manipulated by the club shaft into engaged and disengaged relation with respect to the portion of the turf which is to be lifted in effecting the repair.

Also, a further object is to provide unique means for normally covering and shielding the turf engaging tines of the implement, but which is reversibly foldable to expose the tines for use in making a turf repair.

ing a turf scar.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring more specifically to the drawing, for illustrative purposes, the invention is shown in FIG. 1 as comprising a tubular shaft A of a golf club, such as a putter, which is formed with a usual hand grip section A, and a turf repair attachment means as generally indicated at B. In the conventional golf club, the hand grip section contains a surrounding covering of suitable material as indicated at 10 and which usually extends over the outer end of the tubular shaft. In order to combine the turf repair attachment means with the tubular shaft of the club, the outer end of the hand grip section would be severed as by sawing or by other means in order to expose an open end of the tubular shaft.

As will be seen from the exploded view in FIG. 1, the turf repair attachment means B are susceptible of being fabricated as a separate article of manufacture which is so constructed that it may be combined with the golf club shaft to form a combination golf club and turf repair implement.

More specifically, the turf repair implement comprises an elongate tubular bushing 11 of suitable material such as rubber or an appropriate synthetic which can be molded or otherwise formed to provide the proper shape, which is shown as being cylindrical and of a size to normally fit within the outer end of the tubular. shaft of the golf club.

At the inner end of the bushing 11, there is attached a turf penetrating implement, as generally indicated at Q12, The turf penetrating implement is of unitary construction and is fabricated from a suitable metal, such bolt therethrough, this bolt being of sufficient length to extend through a tubular bore 16 of the bushing 11 and have its threaded end project beyond the outer end of the bushing sufficiently to receive a nut 17 thereon, and a washer 18 which is interposed between the nut and the adjacent end of the bushing.

The diametrically opposed ends of the S-shaped body portion 13 have deflected integrally formed tines 19a and 19b which project outwardly from the body portion 13 and are spiralled with reference to the projected axis of the bushing 11. The tines are curved in a clockwise direction, as seen in FIG. 3, between their base portions and their tip ends.

it will be appreciated that, it would indeed be undesirable to have the sharp pointed tines projecting from the end of the hand grip section of the golf club, without some form of protective cover during the times that the turf repair means are not been utilized. For this purpose, the inner end of the bushing 11 is formed with a cup-shaped guard 20 which has its bottom portion 21 extending under the body portion 13, and against which the body portion abuts. A cup brim 22, as shown in FIG. 1, extends outwardly of the ends of the tines 19a and 19b so as to thus form a surrounding protective shield for the tines.

With the construction as described, the turf repair attachment means B may be easily mounted at the outer end of the tubular shaft A by inserting the bushing 11 endwise into the open'end of the tubular shaft, pushing the bushing therein until the cup bottom portion 21 seats against the outer end of theshaft. The turf repair attachment is secured in this mounted position simply by tightening the bolt 15. As the bolt is tightened, longitudinal compressive forces are applied at the opposite ends of the bushing which will be caused to radially expand into tight engagement with the interior surface of the adjacent wall of the tubular shaft. The mounted position of the turf repair attachment means is shown in FIG. 2, where it will appear that the bottom portion 21 of the cup has its periphery projecting beyond the outer surface of the covering material 10 of the hand grip section A. As shown in phantom lines in FIG. 2, the guard 20 may be reversibly folded with respect to the bottom portion 21 so as to extend inwardly along the adjacent end of the hand grip section, in which position the tines 19a and 19b will be exposed for carrying out a turf repair operation.

The manner of carrying out a turf repair operation is illustrated in FIG. 4 which shows a turf depression 23 of the character which it is desired to repair by a lifting operation to restore the depressed surface into a level or substantially level plane. With the invention as described herein, this is easily accomplished without the necessity of having to hunt for the turf repair implement or tool, and without having to stoop,.bend, or kneel in order to carry out the repair operation. With the present invention, it is only necessary for the player to invert the golf club and place the tips of the tines 19a and 19b in the depression. By applying a slight downward pressure on the club shaft and imparting a clockwise twisting movement, the tines will be caused to penetrate into the surface of the depression. By then applying an upwardly acting force on the club shaft, the depressed surface may be easily raised and repaired so that the green surface will be restored to its desired original condition. By reversing the twisting movement,

the tines may be easily removed and withdrawn from the associated surface without damaging the surface.

From the foregoing description and drawings, it will be clearly evident that the delineated objects and features of the invention will be accomplished.

Various modifications may suggest themselves to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of my invention, and hence, I do not wish to be restricted to the specific forms shown or uses mentioned, except to the extent indicated in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A combination golf club and turf repair implement, comprising:

a golf club including a shaft having a hand grip at one end; and

turf repair means carried by said club and including a planar body portion fixedly mounted on said end of said shaft, spaced integral tines extending from said body outwardly of said end of said shaft and lying substantially in planes generally parallel to each other and to the axis of said shaft and being on opposite sides of said axis, said tines being curved in their planes in respectively opposite directions.

2. A combination according to claim 1, wherein the shaft is tubular and the plane of said body portion is at right angles to the axis of the tubular shaft, and the body portion is attached to the shaft by expansion means extending into said tubular shaft end.

3. A combination according to claim 2, wherein the expansion means comprises an annular bushing of expandable material, and including means for axially applying an inwardly acting pressure against the ends of said bushing to effect radial expansion thereof against the adjacent inner wall of the tubular shaft.

4. A combination according to claim 3, including a cup member of flexible material having a portion integrally formed with said bushing,- said cup being selectively reversibly foldable to expose and shield said tines.

5. A combination according to claim 1, including a movable protective shield member for the tines of said implement, said shield in one positionextending over said tines, and in another position exposing said tines for use.

6. A combination according to claim 5, wherein said shield is of a flexible material.

7. A combination golf club and turf repair device adapted to be utilized by a golfer, comprising:

a. a hollow shaft with an axial opening at one end;

b. a flat body member having a central opening;

c. a plurality of spaced peripheral tines extending from one side of said body and being spiraled relative to a right angled body axis extending through the center of said opening;

d. a tubular axial bushing extending from an opposite side of said body, said bushing being positioned in the axial opening of said shaft; and

e. means including a threaded member extending through said bushing and the central opening of the body member, and being operable to apply compressing forces against the ends of said bushing to radially expand the same within the opening of the shaft 8. A combination according to claim 7, including a cup member having a bottom integrally formed with the inner end of said bushing, said cup being selectively reversibly flexible to extend in opposite directions with respect to its bottom, whereby to shield the tines in one position, and expose the tines in the other position. 

1. A combination golf club and turf repair implement, comprising: a golf club including a shaft having a hand grip at one end; and turf repair means carried by said club and including a planar body portion fixedly mounted on said end of said shaft, spaced integral tines extending From said body outwardly of said end of said shaft and lying substantially in planes generally parallel to each other and to the axis of said shaft and being on opposite sides of said axis, said tines being curved in their planes in respectively opposite directions.
 2. A combination according to claim 1, wherein the shaft is tubular and the plane of said body portion is at right angles to the axis of the tubular shaft, and the body portion is attached to the shaft by expansion means extending into said tubular shaft end.
 3. A combination according to claim 2, wherein the expansion means comprises an annular bushing of expandable material, and including means for axially applying an inwardly acting pressure against the ends of said bushing to effect radial expansion thereof against the adjacent inner wall of the tubular shaft.
 4. A combination according to claim 3, including a cup member of flexible material having a portion integrally formed with said bushing, said cup being selectively reversibly foldable to expose and shield said tines.
 5. A combination according to claim 1, including a movable protective shield member for the tines of said implement, said shield in one position extending over said tines, and in another position exposing said tines for use.
 6. A combination according to claim 5, wherein said shield is of a flexible material.
 7. A combination golf club and turf repair device adapted to be utilized by a golfer, comprising: a. a hollow shaft with an axial opening at one end; b. a flat body member having a central opening; c. a plurality of spaced peripheral tines extending from one side of said body and being spiraled relative to a right angled body axis extending through the center of said opening; d. a tubular axial bushing extending from an opposite side of said body, said bushing being positioned in the axial opening of said shaft; and e. means including a threaded member extending through said bushing and the central opening of the body member, and being operable to apply compressing forces against the ends of said bushing to radially expand the same within the opening of the shaft.
 8. A combination according to claim 7, including a cup member having a bottom integrally formed with the inner end of said bushing, said cup being selectively reversibly flexible to extend in opposite directions with respect to its bottom, whereby to shield the tines in one position, and expose the tines in the other position. 